Sri Lanka - Standards for TradeSri Lanka - Trade Standards
Overview
The Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI), Sri Lanka’s member body to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), is the national standards organization in Sri Lanka. SLSI sets product standards, approves imports covered under a mandatory import-inspection scheme, and performs product testing, pre-export inspection, registration of fish and fishery products, and ISO quality management training. Sri Lanka also is a member of the International Electrotechnical Commission and the International Telecommunications Union.
Standards
The Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI), Sri Lanka’s member body to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), is the national standards organization in Sri Lanka. SLSI sets product standards, approves imports covered under a mandatory import-inspection scheme, and performs product testing, pre-export inspection, registration of fish and fishery products, and ISO quality management training. Sri Lanka is also a member of the International Electrotechnical Commission and the International Telecommunications Union.
There are about 2,000 Sri Lankan standards relating to manufactured products, agricultural commodities, industrial raw materials, and production processes. These standards are primarily voluntary, as only 32 (mainly on building materials, household electrical items, food, and consumer products) are mandatory.
Sri Lanka has adopted ISO 9000 series standards on quality management and assurance, ISO 14000 standards on environment-management systems, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) assurance for food-safety standards, and Good Management Practice Certificate (GMP), ISO 18000 on Occupational Safety, ISO 22000 on food safety management, and ISO 27000 on information security management.
There are about 2,000 Sri Lankan standards relating to manufactured products, agricultural commodities, industrial raw materials, and production processes. These standards are primarily voluntary, as only 32 (mainly on building materials, household electrical items, food, and consumer products) are mandatory.
Sri Lanka has adopted ISO 9000 series standards on quality management and assurance, ISO 14000 standards on environment-management systems, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) assurance for food-safety standards, and Good Management Practice Certificate (GMP), ISO 18000 on Occupational Safety, ISO 22000 on food safety management, and ISO 27000 on information security management.
Testing, inspection and certification
The main conformity assessment body is the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI), http://www.slsi.lk/index.php?lang=en
A mandatory SLSI import inspection scheme applies to 103 items identified on the basis of national health and safety requirements. The scheme guarantees the quality of these imported items against the relevant Sri Lanka standards. SLSI accepts certificates issued by labs accredited by the national accreditation body of the exporting country. SLSI also accepts quality certificates issued by the national standards body of the exporting country or certificates issued by registered manufacturers. All these consignments are subject to random checking. Products without certificates are sampled and tested.
The Sri Lanka Accreditation Board for Conformity Assessment (SLAB), www.slab.lk, is the national accreditation authority for Sri Lanka established under Act 32 of 2005. SLAB is a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (ILAC), the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (APLAC) and the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC). The Board is responsible for accrediting testing labs, medical labs, and inspection and certification bodies involved in conformity assessment. A list of accredited institutions is available at the above website.
Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) operates an accreditation scheme for testing laboratories in Sri Lanka. SLSI accreditation is voluntary and accredits laboratories for conformity to ISO/IEC 17025 general requirements for competence of testing and calibration laboratories. Information on product certification can be found at the Sri Lankan Standards Institution website (http://www.slsi.lk). Test certificates from foreign laboratories are not accepted.
A mandatory SLSI import inspection scheme applies to 103 items identified on the basis of national health and safety requirements. The scheme guarantees the quality of these imported items against the relevant Sri Lanka standards. SLSI accepts certificates issued by labs accredited by the national accreditation body of the exporting country. SLSI also accepts quality certificates issued by the national standards body of the exporting country or certificates issued by registered manufacturers. All these consignments are subject to random checking. Products without certificates are sampled and tested.
The Sri Lanka Accreditation Board for Conformity Assessment (SLAB), www.slab.lk, is the national accreditation authority for Sri Lanka established under Act 32 of 2005. SLAB is a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (ILAC), the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (APLAC) and the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC). The Board is responsible for accrediting testing labs, medical labs, and inspection and certification bodies involved in conformity assessment. A list of accredited institutions is available at the above website.
Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) operates an accreditation scheme for testing laboratories in Sri Lanka. SLSI accreditation is voluntary and accredits laboratories for conformity to ISO/IEC 17025 general requirements for competence of testing and calibration laboratories. Information on product certification can be found at the Sri Lankan Standards Institution website (http://www.slsi.lk). Test certificates from foreign laboratories are not accepted.
Publication of technical regulations
Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to notify to the WTO proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures that could affect trade. Notify U.S. (https://tsapps.nist.gov/notifyus/data/index/index.cfm) is a free, web-based e-mail registration service that captures and makes available for review and comment key information on draft regulations and conformity assessment procedures. Users receive customized e-mail alerts when new notifications are added by selected country(ies) and industry sector(s) of interest, and can also request full texts of regulations. This service and its associated website are managed and operated by the USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point housed within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.